re: Alltime Saints Jersey # Countdown to First Preseason GamePosted by blueslover on 5/16/12 at 8:03 am to Meateye

81 is a tough call...

Atkins was HOF and at the tail end of his career but was still totally a beast in NOLA. Of the original Saints D Dave Whitsell and he were the most legitimate NFL defenders.

Hakim is really just a footnote but was one of the biggest ones in Saints history. Maybe the biggest single play/game/win until '09. Then the fact that he later actually suited up here makes him even more interesting. --------------------

dunno if Pathon deserves that much recognition. Always thought he was the definition of journeyman. Not bad at all but never studly. Jimmy Graham might finally be THE #80 for the black and gold. Pretty painful number in two of the worst draft picks in Saints history: #7 & #13 overall Larry Burton & Lindsay Scott (101 combined career receptions!) ---------------------

05/02/2012: BATON ROUGE, LA (NBC33) — Some former Saints players were at the State Capitol earlier today showing support for a major charity in our state.

Ex-players including Jack Holmes, Mike Strong and Emanuel Zanders were promoting the partnership between the NFL Players Association and the Louisiana Home Builders Association that's called Touchdown for Homes.

re: Alltime Saints Jersey # Countdown to First Preseason GamePosted by blueslover on 5/16/12 at 9:25 am to blueslover

oops, maybe 80

more Atkins-

Atkins was a fierce defender who was known for using his immense size and agility to his advantage. At 6'8", Atkins would often bat passes down at the line of scrimmage and would use his skills as a high jump champion to leapfrog blockers and get to the quarterback. Atkins was one of the first great exclusively defensive players in professional football and, along with fellow Hall of Famer Gino Marchetti, revolutionized the defensive end position. With the Bears, Atkins was a First Team All-Pro selection in 1958, 1960, 1961, and 1963; along with being a starter in the Pro Bowl in eight of his last nine years with Chicago. Before the 1967 season, Atkins requested a trade from Chicago after a falling out with Halas.

He also was one of the hardest drinking players in NFL history. He downed martinis out of hurricane glasses.

re: Alltime Saints Jersey # Countdown to First Preseason GamePosted by blueslover on 5/17/12 at 12:24 pm to Suntiger

so far I'd say 79 in the thinnest in talent history. Any other 79s were just footnotes that played a season or two. I know a lot of rookies already have some number association or liking. It could be a consideration tho to think what numbers are not identified with another player. That is, carve out your niche as THE #whatever. When Hawthorne signed recently he took #57. He gave RJ props and was almost apologetic. But even if Hawthorne turns into an All Pro there will only be one Saint ever identified with 57.